Dejan Lovren's move from Southampton to Liverpool is on the brink of being finalised, sources have confirmed to ESPN.

The Croatia centre-back has been manager Brendan Rodgers' top defensive target this summer.

Liverpool had considered flying the defender to the United States to join their summer tour, but with the squad transferring from Boston to Chicago over the weekend - and then moving on quickly to New York and Charlotte - it has been decided that this was too difficult.

Rodgers has been looking to strengthen a defence that conceded 50 Premier League goals despite finishing in second place last season, and feels that Lovren - who played in all three of Croatia's matches at the World Cup in Brazil - has the leadership qualities to make Liverpool more solid at the back.

New Southampton boss Ronald Koeman had initially said he did not intend to sell the player, but he changed his stance after accepting the player's desire to leave.

The 25-year-old had spoken publicly of his desire to move to Anfield, saying in an interview with Croatian newspaper Sportske Novosti earlier this month that his "head is already at Liverpool".

He will become the third player to move from Southampton to Liverpool this summer, following striker Rickie Lambert and midfielder Adam Lallana.

Rodgers has already signed Germany under-21 midfielder Emre Can from Bayer Leverkusen and Serbian winger Lazar Markovic from Benfica while striker Loic Remy from QPR and midfielder Divock Origi from Lille have both undergone medicals in Boston.

Lovren joined Southampton from Lyon for £8.5 million in June 2013, signing a four-year contract.

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